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Now In Facebook Timeline, Foodily Shows Friends The Food Their Friends Want To Eat

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 19/01/2012 | 0 Comments

SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Foodily(TM), where people curate and share the food they love, announced today that it people can now add their app to their Facebook Timeline to express their love of food. As one the first few companies to launch apps for Facebook Tmeline, now when people favorite food on Foodily, post food photos on Foodily or say they’ve made something on Foodily their friends can see these updates right in their Facebook Ticker. In the same way friends see the music people are listening to on Spotify, now they can also discover food friends have “craved”, “made” or “recommend.”

In addition to seeing the foods people love, when people favorite anything on Foodily after adding the Foodily app, what they like will show up as part of their history in their Timeline. This way people can tie food to their life story. With Foodily favorites in their Timeline, it’s easy to discover foods friends were into at different points in time, see what they’ve been making recently and get new ideas.

“This type of social food discovery between friends hadn’t been possible before – it’s the first recipe newsfeed that curates foods you and your friends love,” Said Andrea Cutright, CEO of Foodily. “Now those 44 minutes a day people spend thinking about food can be a shared experience where ideas from friends can inspire your next meal.”

To have favorite recipes or foods appear in the Facebook ticker and saved to their personal timeline, people simply ‘fave’ a recipe in Foodily, from Foodily.com, the Foodily app on Facebook, or the free Foodily app for iPhone.

About Foodily:

Foodily makes it easy to find, curate and share the food you love. Use Foodily to find out what friends want to eat, discover and save foods that meet your eating style or follow friends and food experts that inspire you. Based in San Mateo, CA, the company is backed by leading venture capital firm Index Ventures. Visit www.foodily.com and share what you love to eat.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Yahoo Co-founder Jerry Yang Leaving Company

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 17/01/2012 | 5 Comments

GFBC NEWS NETWORK

Yahoo Co-Founder, Jerry Yang

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang is leaving the struggling company. The surprise departure, announced Tuesday, comes just two weeks after Yahoo Inc. hired former PayPal executive Scott Thomson as its CEO. Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has resigned his board seat and “all other positions” with the beleaguered Web giant, the company announced this afternoon. Yang co-founded Yahoo in 1995 with David Filo and served as chief executive from June 2007 to January 2009. Filo remains at the company. Yang’s tenure as chief executive was tumultuous with the company reporting a 64 percent drop in net income at a time when the online advertising market was softening. That led to layoffs, including one that cut 1,000 jobs in February 2008, and another that carved away 1,430 later that same year.

E-PDF Officially Launched 3D Video Converter for Mac

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 05/01/2012 | 0 Comments

Shenzhen, Guangdong — (SBWIRE) — 01/05/2012 — E-PDF, a top-ranking software provider focused on DVD/Video/PDF solution, has released many popular products. Nowadays, in order to further satisfy users’ requirements, E-PDF has newly announced the availability of Mac 3D Video Converter, with powerful converting 2D to 3D Video functions, as well as performance improvements and optimizations.

Now 3D movie have amazed more and more people with its vivid and realistic visual entertainment. And with the rise of 3D technology, more and more 3D products including 3D TV, 3D phones, 3D game consoles etc. rich our media enjoyment. The 3D movies are breathtaking, Revolutionary and expensive. All the recent flicks like Kung Fu Panda 2, Pirates of the Caribbean and so on, have been in 3D format. when you get the addition of 3D glasses, you will experience the great fun of watching the real movies and videos.

But there are also many movies and videos which are our favorite collection are 2D format, do you want to watch them with your 3D tools? You will experience the great fun of watching these real movies and videos. If so, you need to convert 2d videos to 3d files on Mac to create 3D format which is compatible with your 3D devices and tools. To convert 2d to 3d video on Mac is not as hard as possible you think, we recommend 2D to 3D Video Converter for Mac for you to convert 2d video to 3d on Mac.

The professional 2D to 3D Video Converter for Mac is the best assistant for you to convert 2d movie to 3d files on Mac, it supports nearly all popular formats such as AVI, MPEG, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MOV, MPEG-2 TS HD Video (*.ts), Quick Time HD Video (*.mov), etc. With the free step by step tutorial for converting 2D video to 3D on Mac next, you can get an easy way to convert 2d to 3d format directly by yourself, and then enjoy your 3D movies, videos, films, etc with you friends and families.

Key Features
- Convert 2D to 3D Video
Convert standard video to 3D video. The 3D types can be Anaglyph, Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom and Top and Bottom (half-height).

- Convert 3D to 3D Video
Convert among different types of 3D videos.

- Convert 3D to 2D Video
Convert Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom and Top and Bottom (half-height) 3D videos to standard 2D videos

- Rich Formats and Multimedia Devices Supported
Convert almost all popular formats (HD or SD) like AVI, MPEG, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MOV, MPEG-2 TS HD Video (*.ts), Quick Time HD Video (*.mov), etc to play on your iPad, iPhone, iPad, PSP and any other mainstream multimedia devices.

- Instant Preview
Preview the output file before converting and check whether it meets your needs.

- Easy-to-use editing functionalities
Adjust video parameters such as “BitRate”, “Frame Rate”, “Video Quality”, “Video Size”, “Start Time”, “Length” etc as you need. More advanced profiles settings are available for professional users.

- Interface Languages
Different interface languages to choose from: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

System Requirements
- OS Mac OS X v10.5 – 10.7

- Processor Intel processor

- RAM 512MB RAM

- Free Hard Disk 100MB free hard disk space for installation

- Graphic Card uper VGA (800×600) resolution, 16-bit graphics card or higher, OpenGL 1.4 or higher

Pricing and Availability
E-PDF Mac 3D Video Converter is available now through the E-PDF website. The retail price of 3D Video Converter for Mac is $39.99. To get more information and obtain a free trial version, please visit: http://www.e-pdf.net/3d/convert-2d-to-3d-on-mac.php/

About E-PDF
E-PDF Inc. is a leading provider of dvd and video solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use videos. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience E-PDF proven applications. For more information, please visit: http://www.e-pdf.net/3d/convert-2d-to-3d-on-mac.php/

House Homeland Security – Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Hearing

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 07/10/2011 | 0 Comments

I. INTRODUCTION Good morning Chairman Lungren, Ranking Member Clarke, Ranking Member Thompson, and Members of the Committee, and thank you for inviting me to testify before the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies Subcommittee.

I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Registry for Internet Numbers, Ltd. (“ARIN”), which issues Internet Protocol (IP) number resources for the US, Canada and Caribbean, but I am speaking here today in my personal capacity based on a long history of building and securing FISMA-compliant federal Information Technology (IT) systems.

I have first-hand knowledge of these matters from my experience in the Internet industry since 1990, including serving as the Chief Technology Officer for several government contractors and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) including BBN, GTE Internetworking and XO Communications, as well as Internet standards work in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Most recently, I served for 5 years as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for ServerVault, providing secure managed IT services for sensitive federal government applications. My duties included direct responsibility for securing and preparing the certification of FISMA Moderate impact level federal information systems over shared Internet-based infrastructure. I have prepared my remarks today out of a desire to see the advancement of responsible Cloud-based computing for the federal government.

I would like to start by offering congratulations to the GSA for the development of its Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) program, as well as the recent Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) awards. By developing this program in cooperation with the Federal CIO council, the GSA has enabled agencies to leverage cloud-based storage, virtual machines, and web hosting services in a manner that should improve the cost and timeliness of federal IT system deployments.

II. MANAGING EMERGING RISKS FROM CLOUD COMPUTING

As a result of my experiences deploying federal IT systems over the public Internet, I was asked to present at cloud interoperability workshop in 2009, and to identify the most critical challenges that Federal CIO’s faced in making use of cloud computing under the existing FISMA security framework. Back then, the major difficulties that I identified were:

* Agency pressure for deployment of timely, cost-effective IT systems

* Administration expectations for leveraging new IT technologies

* Compliance with IT policy mandates (federal and agency-specific)

* Lack of common IT infrastructure services between systems & Potential vendor lock-in with any sizable deployment

Research In Motion : Introduces New BlackBerry 7 Smartphones In The Caribbean

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 03/10/2011 | 0 Comments

October 3, 2011

Sleek, fast and easy-to-use smartphones feature next-generation BlackBerry 7 OS and deliver smooth social experiences wherever you go

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the launch of three BlackBerryÂ® 7 smartphones for the Caribbean region. The new BlackBerryÂ® Boldâ„¢ 9900, BlackBerryÂ® Torchâ„¢ 9860 and BlackBerryÂ® Torchâ„¢ 9810 are expected to be available from carrier partners in the major markets of the Caribbean starting mid-October.

Featuring RIMâ€™s next generation of hardware and software platforms, the new BlackBerry 7 based smartphones offer users a variety of designs to choose from and deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity.
The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever, offering a large keyboard and brilliant touch display. The BlackBerry Torch 9860 introduces an all-new, all-touch design featuring the largest display on a BlackBerry smartphone to date. The new BlackBerry Torch 9810 builds on the popularity of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and combines a large touch display with a convenient slide-out keyboard.
â€œThis is the largest global launch of new BlackBerry smartphones in RIM’s history,â€ said Wes Nicol, Managing Director for the Northern Cone of Latin America and Caribbean region at Research In Motion. â€œWe believe that customers in the Caribbean will be thrilled by the faster performance, enhanced browsing and richer multimedia delivered by these powerful new BlackBerry 7 smartphones.â€

Next-Generation BlackBerry 7 OS
BlackBerry 7 introduces a next generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry. Combining the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine together with the powerful hardware enhancements found in the BlackBerry 7 based smartphones delivers browsing results that are up to 40% faster than BlackBerryÂ® 6 based smartphones and up to 100% faster than BlackBerryÂ® 5 based smartphones*. Additional enhancements to this next generation BlackBerry browser have also optimized zooming and panning for smoother web navigation and optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.
RIMâ€™s new BlackBerry 7 based smartphones also feature Liquid GraphicsTM technology, with each smartphone combining a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a blazingly fast CPU and stunning high resolution display to deliver a highly responsive touch interface with incredibly fast and smooth graphics.
In addition, the new BlackBerry 7 based smartphones continue the tradition of delivering the worldâ€™s best mobile communications experience with a highly refined and integrated suite of phone, email, messaging and social apps to keep users connected and productive throughout the day. Recent enhancements include the newest release of BBMâ„¢ (BlackBerryÂ® Messenger) which now extends the real time BBM experience to a range of other apps. The updated Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media, podcasts, and favorites all in one consolidated view. The new FacebookÂ® for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

BlackBerry 7 OS also includes a number of other pre-loaded applications and integrated functionality for increased productivity and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is now included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. BlackBerryÂ® Protect is also pre-loaded**, offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud. BlackBerryÂ® Balance (announced May 2, 2011) is now integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT departmentâ€™s need for advanced security and IT controls. And further, the popular universal search capability has been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can now simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.

A New Performance Driven Platform

RIMâ€™s line up of next generation BlackBerry smartphones are built on a new performance driven platform powered by the latest BlackBerry software and hardware. In addition to supporting the new BlackBerry 7 OS, each smartphone also features a range of powerful hardware enhancements including a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, and advanced sensors enabling new augmented reality applications such as Wikitude that can be seamlessly integrated with BBM 6 â€“ all designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity for users around the world.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 Smartphone with Touch Display and Keyboard

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet (at only 10.5mm) and the first to offer the perfect union of a high performance keyboard and touch display integrated within the iconic BlackBerry Bold design. The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first BlackBerry smartphones to include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that is enabling many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone. Distinguished by its beautiful design, amazingly effective keyboard and brilliant touch display, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is crafted with premium materials including a brushed stainless steel frame that puts the finishing touch on a truly outstanding smartphone.

All-Touch BlackBerry Torch 9860 Smartphone

The BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone offers the fast, fluid BlackBerry 7 experience in a stylish new all-touch design. With a spectacular new 3.7â€ display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone, the new all-touch BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone is optimized for displaying web pages, photos, videos, and powerful gaming experiences and still deliver the real-time communication and collaboration experience loved by millions of BlackBerry smartphone users around the world.
BlackBerry Torch 9810 Smartphone with Touch Display and Slide-Out Keyboard
Building on the popular design of the BlackBerry Torch 9800, the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 is faster and more fluid with high performance hardware features and the new BlackBerry 7 OS delivering an enhanced multimedia experience. Featuring a large 3.2â€, high resolution touch display and a distinctive BlackBerry keyboard that easily slides out to allow faster typing, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 truly delivers the best of both worlds.

Availability
The next generation of BlackBerry smartphones is expected to be available from carriers in the Caribbean starting mid of October. Availability dates for the devices from specific carriers will be announced in conjunction with RIMâ€™s partners.

iphone 5 release date 10/14/2011 (41% of North Americans plan to purchase iphone 5)

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 29/09/2011 | 0 Comments

GFBC NETWORK NEWS
September 29, 2011

Apple has done it again, it has managed to maintain a cult-like following in a “recession”. According to research reports recently released by mobile ad network InMobi, 41% of mobile users in North America plan to purchase the iPhone 5. 50% of those planning to purchase the phone will buy it within the first six months after it is launched, which could propel its current 27% smartphone market share to 41%. InMobi added one caveat: if Apple decides to release a minor upgrade to the current iPhone, just 15% of consumers will purchase the new device. InMobiâ€™s research revealed that consumers hope Apple upgrades the processing speed, screen resolution, battery life and service quality in the new device. 51% of current iPhone owners, 27% of BlackBerry owners and 52% of Android owners plan to upgrade to the iPhone 5.

Apple has revealed a release date for the most anticipated phone of the decade.

Here are some things you should expect with the iPhone 5:

A New Design

At first, many people thought that Apple was going to keep the design of the iPhone 5 identical or extremely close to the iPhone 4. However, numerous pictures of new iPhone cases have been released, which in no way could hold the previous versions of the iPhone. Therefore, it is safe to say the iPhone 5 has been redesigned.

Faster Performance

To keep up with competitors, Apple most likely will be upgrading the RAM on the iPhone 5. We rely on smartphones extensively so it only makes sense that Apple would have upgraded the speed and performance of the new iPhone.

Better Camera

While Apple did improve the camera with the iPhone 4, it is expected that the camera on the iPhone 5 will be upgraded further. Many experts believe the screen will be larger, the camera will be 8 megapixels instead of 6, and the iPhone 5 will allow for full 1080p recording.

4G?

It is still unknown whether or not Apple will include 4G capabilities on the iPhone 5. However, if 4G is included, expect the iPhone to be larger. 4G requires a large amount of battery power and Apple has always been careful about battery life. While many people do want 4G on the iPhone, we will have to wait until the meeting to see whether or not Apple has included it.

Addition of New Carriers

Apple has slowly been extending itsâ€™ reach to new carriers. There is some speculation that Apple will include new carriers for the iPhone 5. Some rumors have indicated T-Mobile will be included, especially with AT&T trying to buy them.

Voice Recognition

Apple acquired a voiced-based personal assistant service Siri last year and has not used it much at all, at least that we know of. Apple may be integrating this service on the new iPhone to allow for voice recognition.

If anything is certain, the new iPhone 5 should be much improved and better then previous models. Apple always seems to one-up themselves with each version and hopefully the iPhone 5 is no different.

The N E W iPhone 5 and iPhone 4GS – Coming October 2011

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 21/09/2011 | 0 Comments

GFBC NEWS NETWORK
September 21, 2011

Apple is planning the release of the NEW iPhone for October. Here are list of features for the hottest phone since the iPhone 4.

A few features of the new iPhone 5:

Thinner! With shiny glass back piece – 9.3 mm thick.

Face Recognition Security

Face Time (Video Chat) access on 3G AND 4G (available currently but only on 3G)

Custom SMS tones

Custom E-mail alerts with ability to assign different tones to each email address

A new, sleeker body design.

Better display – 4 inch screen! Scratch proof and shatter proof screen.

8 MEGAPIXEL Camera!

iCloud which allows for wireless sync with iTunes and all other devices.

iMessage – chat service instead of texting (between Apple devices).

32G (basic) and 64G of memory. You’re sure to never run out.

Extended battery life = 14 hours talk time on 3G and 7 hours on 4G. Standby 600 hours.

Hi Definition audio.

Messaging indicator light.

iOS5 – direct manipulation and easier multi-touch gestures.

HTML5 but may allow Adobe Flash Player

Former Apple CEO, Emaciated in very poor health new CEO given 1,000,000 shares of Apple

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 26/08/2011 | 0 Comments

GFBC NEWS NETWORK
August 27, 2011

Former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple just resigned two days ago. Pictures of the CEO today have surfaced from TMZ showing an emaciated Jobs looking very fragile indeed. Jobs just handed over the helm of Apple Corp, to new Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook with a hefty bonus.

In an SEC filing that was posted to Apple’s investor site this afternoon, the company notes that Cook has been given 1 million restricted shares of Apple stock, half of which will be vested in five years time. The rest will be vested in 2021, contingent upon Cook still being at the company. It has been reported that Jobs would stay on at apple on the Board of Directors; in addition to Disney’s board. In May 2006, Jobs sold Pixar to Disney for $7.4 billion, giving him a 7.4 percent stake in Disney, one of the six largest Hollywood film studios. In his resignation letter Wednesday, Jobs said he’s no longer able to fulfill his duties as CEO but will remain at Apple as chairman.

In a letter to Apple’s Board of Directors, Jobs stated “o the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Appleâ€™s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Appleâ€™s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

THE NEW NIKON D7000: READY TO FULFIL YOUR PASSION

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 16/09/2010 | 0 Comments

NIkon D7000

Nikon UK, 15 September, 2010 â€“ Nikon launches the D7000, a D-SLR that offers exceptional image quality, reliability and performance packed into a durable and portable body.

Jordi Brinkman, Product Manager for Nikon Europe, says: â€œThe exciting new D7000 is the ideal next camera for D-SLR owners who want to further indulge their passion for photography with a camera that boasts more advanced features providing creative power. It has a new image sensor, EXPEED 2, AF system and metering sensor to ensure great performance in a highly durable body. In fact, it has everything you need in your next SLR but in a size you wouldnâ€™t expect.â€

Exceptional image quality
The D7000 includes a range of new features to ensure superior image quality including 16.2 effective megapixels with the newly developed Nikon DX format CMOS image sensor. The camera boasts a new image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, which delivers higher image quality, higher speed processing and multiple functions with more power. And the D7000â€™s increased ISO sensitivity (100-6400, extendable up to 25600) ensures exceptional detail with minimal noise when capturing fast moving subjects or in poor light situations, even without the flash.

Outstanding reliability
The D7000â€™s bright Glass Pentaprism Viewfinder with approximate 100% frame coverage and 0.94x magnification gives you the most precise view and focus of any scene, and it is always ready when you are with a shutter speed of 1/8000s, tested to 150,000 cycles. What is more, the camera is protected by magnesium alloy top and rear covers and has durable sealing against dust and moisture so it is prepared for even the most testing of situations.

When it comes to storage, the D7000 again provides you with maximum reliability. The twin SD memory card slots allow for added storage capacity and give you the freedom to manage your images and video in the way you want to either by saving more of them, keeping different formats separate or always having backup space when you need it.

Enhanced performance
The D7000â€™s newly developed AF system featuring 39 focus points, including 9 cross-type sensors in the centre, gives you the sharpest focus, no matter where your subject is in the frame. And with Nikonâ€™s new 2,016 pixel RGB metering sensor to enhance the effectiveness of the Scene Recognition System, plus High Speed Continuous shooting capability at 6FPS, you can be sure to capture incredibly accurate, high-quality images every time.

Full-HD D-Movie with AF-F mode
The D7000 has direct access to a movie record button so you can capture footage in full HD (1080p) with greater ease. The AF-F gives continuous focus during movie recording, which is captured using MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression, and has a stereo microphone jack for quality sound recording. This means superior image quality and operability when using the D-Movie function.

The D7000s built-in movie editing functions also give you the freedom to chose the start and end points of your footage and switch to selected frames for capturing still images without relying on a computer â€“ letting you edit and share your films quickly and easily.

Optional accessories
Nikon is also launching the new Speedlight SB-700, a feature-packed yet easy-to-use flash unit. The SB-700 offers lighting benefits that greatly surpass the camera onboard flash, allowing total control over scene or subject lighting to create beautiful, professional looking results.

To guarantee great performance for longer, the D7000 also has a dedicated Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D11 (optional) that enables seamless switching of power supply with the in-camera battery, vertical shooting and further stabilizes the body when using a long telephoto lens.

The D7000 is compatible with the GP-1 GPS (Global Positioning System) unit which records location information in the image file and of course, the camera supports a wide variety of NIKKOR lenses.

YouTube Goes ‘Live’ with Streaming Experiment

GFBC NEWS STAFF | 13/09/2010 | 0 Comments

You Tube Live Stream Platform

Google’s YouTube division is testing the waters of offering a live video streaming channel that gives third parties the capability to broadcast live programming on the Web. Starting this Monday and Tuesday at 8 a.m. (PT), the online video giant introduces Live on YouTube — a destination that will offer two days of live entertainment programming. YouTube says that its efforts are part of a “live streaming platform trial.” Live on YouTube video content can be accessed via YouTube.com or via an embedded Web app that can be placed into a Website or blog.

Video programming is provided from four content partners and ranges from news and entertainment from Rocketboom, instructional video from Howcast, celebrity and lifestyle programming from Young Hollywood, and the video destination Next New Networks will offer a variety of programs including satire from its Barely Political channel.

The Live on YouTube video channel is being promoted on YouTube’s homepage, which states: “Today and tomorrow we’re conducting a limited test of our new live streaming platform in conjunction with the partners featured here. Watch the videos below for more information about their must-see events.”
Content and Comments Wanted

Part of the trial of the service includes a Live Comments module where you can chat with other viewers and live broadcasters as you watch the show. YouTube also says part of its experimental live streaming platform will also include support for content from a wide range of sources. “All broadcasters need is a webcam or external USB/FireWire camera,” according to the YouTube announcement.

The move comes as Google is facing increased competition from Facebook that, according to ComScore, surpassed Google as the online destination where users spend the most time. YouTube is still king of video, by a long shot.

In July, ComScore reported that Facebook had jumped to become the third largest video destination on the Web. Google’s YouTube doesn’t have much to worry about yet, however. According to ComScore, YouTube ranked as the top online video content site on the Web with 143.2 million unique viewers, followed by Yahoo Sites with 55.1 million viewers, and then by Facebook with 46.6 million viewers (compared to 43 million viewers in June).

The move also comes as Google getting set to take the wraps off its Google TV initiative that it says is a platform that joins the Internet with traditional television.
Live Streaming for the Rest of Us?

For the moment, YouTube is only experimenting with live streaming with select partners. It’s not clear what YouTube’s future live streaming plans are, and whether they include making the feature available to all users. That would be an interesting addition, however, and would put YouTube in direct competition with other user-generated live streaming sites such as UStream and Justin.tv.

Monday and Tuesday’s live streams are not the first time YouTube has offered live events. Google typically broadcasts many of its product launch events on YouTube, rock band U2 broadcast a live concert worldwide on YouTube last October and President Obama answered questions live on YouTube in February.